Briefs
American SamoaAmerican Samoa wants associate member status of the Pacific Islands Forum, after being an observer since 2011. Governor Lemanu Peleti Maunga said it was crucial for American Samoa to push for greater
Movers and Shakers
Viranria Brown is the first woman to be appointed as Vanuatu’s High Commissioner to Fiji since independence. She previously served as the First Secretary to the Vanuatu High Commission in Suva from 2020 to 2023. Fiji
Pacific leaders’ role critical for a more resilient tourism sector
Pacific tourism leaders have a critical role to play for a more resilient future Pacific tourism sector. Tourism in the Pacific is about relationship building, economic development, growth, and connectivity. These
Samoa visitor arrivals returning to pre-pandemic levels
Visitors to Samoa’s shores in the first quarter of 2023 totaled over 30,000 with data released by the Samoa Bureau of Statistics (SBS) showing arrivals beginning to get to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels.
Over 11,000 travellers visited Samoa in February
A total of 11,411 travellers visited Samoa in February of this year, which according to the Samoa Bureau of Statistics (SBS) is a decrease of 34.4 percent over the previous month of January, 2023. However, the latest
Investing for tourism growth
The rebound in Fiji tourism has again exposed a vulnerability that an upcoming tourism investment summit seeks to address; the shortage of rooms to meet projected arrivals. Citing Fiji Airways’ forecasts and new route
Briefs
American SamoaAmerican Samoa’s Department of Health says it will only allow school aged children who are vaccinated to attend school. This as neighbouring Samoa monitors several children suspected to have measles. The
An Australian-funded safe ferries program would save lives in the Pacific
Marine safety and sea transport are major concerns for the Pacific Islands region. The island states have a high level of dependence on inter-island transport for the movement of both goods and people. All Pacific
Kiribati welcomes resumed airline service
The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) has welcomed the announcement by Nauru Airlines to resume its Island Hopper Service from October 16. This service last operated in March 2020, prior to the COVID-19 international
‘Everyone’s business’ – Vanuatu reopens to tourists
Vanuatu reopened to tourists on July 1, but there is still some work to do to reopen properties that have been shuttered for two years and fill frontline tourism positions. Virgin Australia says it will resume its
Opinion: Pacific aviation is struggling to take off after the pandemic – how can the ‘blue continent’ stay connected?
With Samoa fully reopening its borders on August 1, another Pacific country moved tentatively forwards after two years of border closures and little or no international tourism. But opening up is not as simple as
